A month later, missing Immokalee 6-year-old not forgotten

But as time passes by, Collier County Housing Authority executive director Esmeralda Serrata said she fears people might forget about Adji Desir.

"That's been my concern," she said. "This child is still missing. There is still hope that he is out there."

The disappearance of 6-year-old Adji from his grandmother's Farm Worker Village home in Immokalee on Jan. 10 shook the small community.

And although the ground search was called off, authorities continue to investigate.

"We are still following up on leads and do have some tasks that we are getting done ourselves," said Collier County Sgt. Ken Becker. "It's still an active investigation."

According to Becker, the search for Adji has spread through both of South Florida's coasts with detectives heading to the east coast Monday to deliver additional posters to law enforcement agencies.

Becker said the search has concentrated in Southwest and South Florida because of the strong Haitian community presence.

Time however, has affected the pace of the investigation.

"Unfortunately the number of leads have slowed down," said Becker.

The family however is holding on, he said.

"They're dealing with the situation as best as can be expected," said Becker. "It's a very difficult situation for them."

Maribel Slabaugh, program manager for the Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Collier County office, said many people in the community are still asking for fliers.

"We encourage people to take a good number so they can distribute them," said Slabaugh. "Anything they hear, or know, or recall, they need to immediately contact the Sheriff's office and give that information."

For their part, the community has continued to keep close contact with the Sheriff's office regarding the situation, said Serrata.

She added that the Housing Authority has also kept in contact with Adji's family.

Residents are also being more vigilant, admitted Serrata.

"Prior to the Sheriff's Office pulling out, we had a community meeting with all of our residents," Serrata said. "We tried to impart to the residents, at that time, that they need to pay extra attention to their children."

The caution has led to kids not being let out at night unsupervised.

"They need to be extra careful," said Serrata. "Not to ignite fear, but in these uncertain times it's very important that we be watchful."

The mother of four said that before Adji went missing, she used to let her youngest son walk to Village Oaks Elementary alone.

"Now I walk with him," said Diaz. "To be safer."

Through it all, she said she could only imagine the grief Adji's mother is going through.

"I pray to God that he is alright," said Diaz, whose kids knew Adji from when they played in the community's park. "When a child is ripped from the mother, the mother suffers."

Four year resident Horcene Louise, 30, said some things have remained the same in Farm Worker Village, but that people are being more careful.

"We're watching the kids," he said adding that the neighbors are making an effort to look out for each other.

Louise said that it was especially true of the village's Haitian community.

"The community is like a family," said Louise, while working on a grey sedan on Grace Court.

It's the community, Becker said, that in the end would make the difference in this case.

"We just ask that everybody keep an eye out," said Becker. "Please don't hesitate to come forward. We are going to need the community to help us."

For more information about the search for Adji Desir visit the Collier County Sheriff's Web site at www.colliersheriff.org or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids site www.missingkids.com.